3) Milkha Singh refuses Arjuna Award
One of the most celebrated Indian athletes of all time, Milkha Singh saw red over the awarding of the prestigious Arjuna award in 2001 when he was nominated for lifetime achievements.
The Flying Sikh had won 4 Asian games gold medals, 1 Commonwealth games Gold, and was considered one of the best 400m runners in the world at one point in time. Finding himself clubbed together with athletes who achieved no-where near to what he had, Milkha refused to accept the award and targeted then Sports Minister Uma Bharti.
Milkha alleged that the politicians including Ms.Bharti had besmirched the reputation of the Arjuna award. He said at a press conference, “I have been clubbed with sportspersons who are nowhere near the level that I had achieved.
My sportspersons friends in India and abroad are all strongly concerned and they are justified because I had already been honoured with the Padma Shri immediately after my achievement in 1958.” He criticised the nomination criterias and hit out at the decision to Arjuna to people who had no claim to it.
He concluded by adding that he would make a good Union Minister for Sports and ensure such awards are presented with transparency.
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